Cover The interior corridor of the modern family home is lined with timber-slatted screens
The interior corridor of the modern family home is lined with timber-slatted screens
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Ken Wong Architect's floating concrete and glass modern family home in Bukit Damansara elegantly balances work-life integration
The irregular diamond-shaped plot in Bukit Damansara seemed destined for compromise until architect Ken Wong saw a possibility where others saw problems. His solution—a precisely angled cruciform modern family home—now sits confidently among the established homes of one of Kuala Lumpur's long-favoured residential enclaves.
“The unusual geometry of the site was both challenging and interesting,” said Wong, founder and lead architect of Kenwong Architects. “Our final product stayed remarkably close to the first sketch — it was an immediate reaction to the land’s shape that gave rise to the cruciform layout.”
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The aerial perspective reveals how Wong’s initial sketch response to the irregular diamond-shaped lot
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This 7,000-square-foot modern family home to a couple and their three children (a girl and twin boys between ages 7 and 10), consists of two perpendicular volumes stacked to create distinct zones while maximising the peculiar site.
The minimalist entrance showcases Wong's bold architectural gesture where fair-faced concrete creates a protected carport beneath the overhanging upper volume
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The ground level serves practical functions beyond typical residential needs. “The ground floor nave accommodates business transactions and tuition classes, keeping semi-public engagements separate from private living spaces,” Wong explained.
This thoughtful division allows the family to maintain productivity without sacrificing domestic comfort.
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Above The interplay of concrete, glass and water epitomises Wong’s strategy, where strategic masses separate public and private spaces while carving out four triangulated external pocket spaces
Above The swimming pool extends along one arm of the cruciform layout, creating four triangulated external pocket spaces
The interplay of concrete, glass and water epitomises Wong’s strategy, where strategic masses separate public and private spaces while carving out four triangulated external pocket spaces
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Above lies the private sanctuary. The upper volume houses five bedrooms and creates what Wong describes as “resort-style villa living” with a shared family room extending to a timber-boarded roof terrace.
This organisation carves out four triangulated outdoor spaces at the building’s corners, each with distinct landscaping yet remaining exclusive to the family.
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The dining area exemplifies the home’s zoning strategy, with warm timber elements encasing a stairway
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Structurally, the modern family home appears to defy gravity. “A pair of strong structural blade walls, expressed in fair-faced concrete, support the rendered box-like structure above,” said Wong.
“Everything else is glazed so that the box — the private domain — appears to be floating.” This visual effect creates Wong’s favourite element: “The high living space defined by the hovering boxes above.”
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Above Persfloor timber detailing creates a textural dialogue between the indoor and outdoor spaces
Above The oak-lined staircase enclosure demonstrates Wong’s material restraint with sculptural wood elements
Persfloor timber detailing creates a textural dialogue between the indoor and outdoor spaces
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The material palette remains restrained yet purposeful. Local sources provided most of the elements — stone from Stone Empire, timber flooring from Persfloor, and kitchen installations by BOFI.
Wong worked with longtime collaborators, including general contractor Chai from CL Steel and interior contractor Ricky from Pyner Constructions, relationships that proved vital during a transitional period.
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The timber-decked terrace extends from the kitchen with concrete blade walls supporting the floating upper volume
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“Getting all the drawings done and coordinated was a challenge as I was going through a company change,” Wong noted.
“Constant discussion and engagement with my regular contractor, who understood my vision, was key to the successful execution.”
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The interior corridor of the modern family home is lined with timber-slatted screens
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Environmental considerations informed key decisions without dominating the design narrative.
“We incorporated passive elements like substantial overhangs and strategic orientation of openings to avoid direct sunlight,” said Wong. “Plantings at calculated positions provide natural shade for the house.”
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The property’s exterior perspective reveals the careful integration within its neighbourhood context, with the green roof system
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The completed modern family home achieves what Wong calls “a dialogue between geometry, space, and living.”
Every internal walkway connects with characteristic outdoor spaces, creating permeability between zones while maintaining privacy. Natural ventilation flows through the structure, complemented by abundant daylight filtered through shaded openings.
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Above Strategic plantings between the pool and boundary wall create microclimate zones
Above The minimal detailing of the upper volume features slender vertical balustrades that provide safety while maintaining visual lightness
Strategic plantings between the pool and boundary wall create microclimate zones
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While Wong acknowledges opportunities for enhanced interior design and landscaping, the architectural foundation demonstrates how constraints can drive innovation.
The complexity of the site generated a solution that separates functions while maintaining visual connectivity between spaces."
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The timber-decked roof terrace provides an outdoor entertaining space on the upper level
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“The architectural expression comes to life with attention to spatial composition, processional movement, contextual response, and layering,” Wong concludes.
“The by-product is connectivity, clear volumes, and functional separation while maintaining interpenetration of space.”
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Photography: BricksBegin
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Jennifer Choo is Regional Managing Editor of Tatler Homes, covering architecture, interior design, and art across Asia. Based in Malaysia, she oversees regional content on luxury residential design and contemporary art collections. Legally trained but choosing to pursue her passion for design, she previously led notable design publications and worked as an interior stylist and art consultant for property developers, design firms, and private clients.
